Plenty of potential Marian senior nails ACT exam with perfect score

December 28, 2005|LAUREEN FAGAN Tribune Staff Writer

John Firth of Mishawaka has done something only a few other students in Indiana have done this year -- achieved the highest possible score, 36, on his ACT exams for college. Firth, the son of John and Ann Firth of Mishawaka, took the SAT tests with excellent results, too. But when his June ACT scores came back, he was one of only 82 students (three in Indiana) to have scored a 36, which was as confusing as it was exciting. "To tell you the truth, I didn't really know what my score meant," said Firth, who had a better grasp of how SAT performance is scored. "I guess it's an honor just to be counted among such a small group like that." Firth, who was studying his physics text while waiting to talk about his future plans, said math is his strongest subject. "But I think I have a wide range of academic interests." Firth said he tries to be balanced in his academic and social life -- and he's not a typical "geek," Marian staff adds. "I'd say my weakest subject would be English, in terms of reading and reading comprehension," Firth said. "I don't think I read enough." But it's not all work and no play for Firth, either. This year, he's the co-captain of his golf team -- and he's doing mock trial and National Honor Society, too. "Last year, I volunteered on Congressman Chris Chocola's campaign," Firth said. His other community involvements include service projects, such as Junior Civitan involvement in his first few years at Marian. Now, he's looking ahead to college with an eye toward law school. "For college, I'm thinking most likely Notre Dame," said Firth, adding that the school was a family tradition. "My parents both went there for college and for law school," he explained. Firth also is applying to Yale, Harvard and Stanford. "I'm thinking maybe I'd like to be a lawyer," he said. Law attracts him, he said, because of "the way it requires you to think on your feet. "And to be able to analyze and interpret the law and be able to express that."Staff writer Laureen Fagan: lfagan@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6344